Etymology Explorer › Faroese

Where does “Bjørgvin” come from?

Bjørgvin (Faroese) comes from Old Norse Bjǫrgvin, from Old Norse bjarg, from Proto-Germanic bergaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.

Ancestry of “Bjørgvin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old NorseBjǫrgvinmeadow between the mountains
2Old NorsebjargAlternative form of berg; cliff
3Proto-Germanicbergazhill; mountain; refuge; shelter
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- →